grenademan

For the last 13 years I have been the organiser of a WW2 living history group portraying the American combat soldiers in the ETO & MTO during WW2. During the last year we have radically changed our display direction and we have been developing a very successful Pacific Theatre display, themed either around the events on Bataan/Corregidor or on Guadalcanal. Both scenarios are almost unique over here in the UK and the initial positive response from fellow enthusiasts and the public has already led us to plan bigger, multi group scenarios for next year. More people, more weapons, more equipment & more vehicles - pooling resources to make a far bigger impact. We are fortunate here also, to have direct Japanese & Filipino involvement, which gives our display an unusual but authentic touch. We have quite a large collection of original deactivated, ( I think your term might be 'de-milled') WW2 US small arms, appropriate to either scenario, from M1911 Colts through various models of the M1903, plus the M1917 & M1 rifles, M1928A1 Thompsons, B.A.R.s up to M1919 Brownings. An M1917 water cooled Browning H.M.G. would be an ideal addition to our collection, but as you know far better than I, originals are scarce & expensive. We may have quite a large amount of money invested in period weapons, equipment & vehicles, but the purchase of a complete M1917 on a tripod with all it's kit is beyond any of us as individuals. So, for better or worse, we have gone down the 'replica' route. We don't need to shoot. Our weapons are part of a historical scenario - a display where they are emplaced, mounted on vehicles, placed 'in context' or carried by individuals portraying the servicemen of the time. We have a near full weight steel replica M1917 in build at the moment. The cradle & tripod will follow over the winter, (subject to us being able to collate enough reference material). The MG itself is almost complete, save for small details & it is these which will make the project. Our aim is to make the replica look as convincing as possible at fairly close range and it is here that I wouldlike to ask the advice of forum members on various technical and historical details. I have a series of questions which, I hope, gentlemen, you might kindly answer when you have time. Here we go: First off, of course, is what exactly do we need as regards specific cradle, tripod, steam chests, ammo boxes and such to create a complete & correct M1917 Browning assembly, appropriate for the December 1941 to October 1942 period, as used by the US Army, 31st IR (US) & 51st IR (PS), Philippines, or the 7th Marines & 164th IR, Guadalcanal? I'm assuming we'd use an M1917 tripod, but the military seemed to use several types of cradle. Which would be correct? Which model steam chest would be correct? Ammunition boxes. We have a stack of the WW2 metal 30 cal cans for our M1919's, but only one original wooden box for the M1917. Typically, how many should we have to go with the M1917? Should the open 'in use' box be mounted on the cradle, to swing with the gun, or be placed on the ground? I've seen numerous photos recently of both options, using the wooden boxes. How were the boxes attached to the cradle? Also, to my uneducated eyes, there seem to be at least two types of wooden ammo box. One with an angled cut out on the underside & one without. Which is correct? Were the boxes painted O.D. or were they bare timber? Did they carry any markings? Was ammunition also issued to the M1917's in the same cans as those used by the M1919's? Was tracer or AP used, or just ball? We have recently taken delivery of several cloth belts of inert .30 ball ammo from a US source & for display purposes. These cloth belts are dark O.D. in colour with a brass eyelet on a tab at either end. Where the ammunition is 30 calibre, I'm not sure if the belts are the correct type. Could anyone please advise on this? What markings did the M1917 carry on the side of the receiver? Another thing that confuses me is the varied finish of the M1917's I have seen on the web. What might be termed 'modern' restorations seem to be more often black - parkerised or blued, I'm not sure - with bright bronze & brasswork. Beautiful guns & every inch a credit to their proud owners. Nothing beats a lovingly restored vintage firearm, but I suspect that a wartime 'front line' finish might have been a little different. Older guns I have seen seem to be a bare steel finish (varied in itself, from part to part), with dulled brass & tarnished bronze. A few even seem to have the water jacket, tripod & cradle painted OD. I've also read recently that on some guns, the bronze ends to the water jacket were replaced by steel items. What would be correct? The biggest help to us would be some dimensioned drawings. Photos are easy to find, although interpreting them is harder, and there are exploded diagrams of the tripod & such, with parts lists on the web, but dimensions of the major components - tripod legs, cradle side plates, details of the elevation gear, tripod locking handles, etc, would be an enormous help. Can you suggest a source for this information? Any information and assistance that you might kindly supply would be gratefully received. We're trying to do the best we can with this project & while we might not be able to create an exact reproduction, if we can produce something that says 'real' at very close range to just about everyone who looks, we'll be well pleased. Thank you for your time gentlemen. I look forward to your replies. Tim

Gentlemen, I have just bought a very nice deactivated M1928A1 that seems to have a story behind it. Here is a description of the markings: It has WB, I assume, an inspectors mark, on the left side of the receiver, just behind the extractor plate, with a small flaming bomb ordnance mark beneath it. On the receiver, above the fire selector it reads, US Model 1928A1 with AO 31638 below. Under the rear sights on the left side of the receiver, Thompson Submachinegun, Calibre .45 automatic cartridge. On the right side:Auto-Ordnance Corporation, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA above the trigger & a list of 13 US patents in two columns of 6 & the last central, just under the rear sight. Interestingly, on removing the detachable stock, on the underside of the frame, I found the serial number AO 48007 crossed out with three lines, definitely applied with a sharp tool, as they are quite deep, very straight, lines. Done with the aide of a steel rule, without a doubt., so this is a likely workshop/armoury/production alteration. The number 31638 is stamped next to this and above it, 31638 is scratched in quite legible, neat, flowing handwriting. My experience of dealing with many Americans over the years leads me to believe that the script is strongly evocative of American style handwriting of the WW2 generation. No proof, but I feel it is very likely. That could be an interesting story. Was it re-assembled in a US Army armoury? The punch stencilling of the two numbers on the underside of the frame is identical in size & style - was it done in production? Someone wanted the frame marked AO 48007 mated with the receiver & barrel of AO 31638 before 31638 was stamped onto the frame & hand marked it so accordingly. The weapon is suposed to have come from unused former Soviet stocks of lend-lease weapons, released & sold recently to importers based here in the UK It is not marked 'US Property' in any place that I can see. The weapon has the finned barrel, compensator, flip up adjustable sights, with side protectors & the usual detachable stock. The foregrip is the military type, but of different timber to the pistol grip & stock. Overall condition is excellent - far better than the very good 800,000 range serial M1A1 that I have just sold. Over to you guys. Any clarification, (particularly a production date), would be very gratefully recieved. Can anyone fill out the story? Tim